Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL) has announced the ground-breaking of a new viral antigen manufacturing facility in Phase III of Genome Valley, Karkapatla, Ranga Reddy District, Telangana. 

With this investment of Rs 75 crore in the upcoming facility, Indian Immunologicals Limited expects to increase its capacity to supply additional quantities of high-quality and safe vaccines. The new facility will be specially designed as a multi-product facility and to cater to the need for viral vaccines in the pipeline that includes Dengue, Zika and Varicella.

The senior management of the company including Dr K Anand Kumar, Managing Director and Dr Prasanna Deshpande, Deputy Managing Director were present during the ground-breaking of the upcoming viral antigen plant. Spread across 2,000 square meters, the state-of-the-art new plant will be designed with the latest biosafety - Bio Safety Level 3 suite and will complement Indian Immunologicals’ existing operation adding more equipped and high-speed production.  The company also plans to utilise the cutting-edge facility to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines post completion of its R&D with Griffith University, Australia.

The Company also inaugurated a new Sterile Filling Facility that was commissioned last year at an additional investment of Rs 75 crore. This facility will increase IIL’s capacity to supply lifesaving vaccines such as the Anti Rabies Vaccine (ARV) – Abhayrab™. As a part of the expansion plan, Indian Immunologicals Limited will add over 150 new positions, bringing its total staff strength close to 1,500. The new facility will boost the production capacity by over 35 per cent and increase the supply capacity to key markets where rabies vaccine is critically needed.

Dr Kumar said, “The total investment of over Rs 150 crore in in the same direction of our vision to increase the production capacities to ensure a reliable and affordable supply of high-quality vaccines to larger communities.”

“The new plant is expected to be ready for operation by October 2021,” added Dr Deshpande.

IIL has 4 manufacturing facilities at various locations – Karkapatla, Telangana – Human Vaccines & Animal Health Formulations; Ooty, Tamil Nadu – Anti Rabies production unit; Hyderabad, Telangana – Human Biologicals Unit (Gachibowli) and animal vaccines unit; Dargaville, New Zealand - New Bovine Serum.

Image caption- Left to right- Kamesh CHB, HR - IIL; Dr. Prasanna Deshpande, Deputy Managing Director, IIL; Dr. K Anand Kumar, Managing Director, IIL; MC Bhagyan Muthiah, VP - HR, IIL and Dr. Rajendra Ligala, VP, R&D, IIL